The BC Community Bat Program is seeking volunteers and bat colonies for the Annual Bat Count. This citizen-science initiative encourages residents to count bats at local roost sites. “Bat counts are a wonderful way for residents to get involved in collecting important scientific information” says biologist Mandy Kellner, coordinator of the BC Community Bat Program. “No special skills are needed, kids can be involved, and you can relax in a deck chair while counting.” This year the Annual Bat Count will collect baseline data on bat populations before the devastating White Nose Syndrome fungal disease affects bats in the province. “White Nose Syndrome is estimated to have killed more than six million bats since it was first discovered in eastern North America a decade ago,” says Kellner. “In March 2016, the disease was detected just east of Seattle. This has greatly increased our urgency to understand bat populations in BC. We need the public’s help to census local bat populations. The summer of 2017 may be our last year to obtain population estimates before White Nose Syndrome causes widespread declines in western North America.” Volunteers wait outside a known roost site, such as a bat-house, barn, bridge or attic, and...

A big thank you to the dozens of volunteers that attended last weekend’s community planting event at the Seymour River estuary. The group did a phenomenal job of planting thousands of native plants during the low-tide window on Saturday morning. The plants will provide a critical source of food and shelter for fish, insects, birds and other animals.

The Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society (OSSS) is holding a community enhancement day this Saturday, June 6 th at Max Lake Road wetland near Penticton, BC. This wetland is one of the few marshes remaining in the Penticton area, and is a refuge for Western Screech owls , tiger salamanders , painted turtles , and many other Okanagan wildlife species. OSSS is looking for volunteers to help remove garbage and invasive weeds from the property from 9am to 2pm: for details on what to bring, click here , or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. HCTF is proud to support OSSS efforts to promote voluntary habitat stewardship in the Okanagan Basin (project #8-90).